The Mysteries of Udolpho, by Ann Radcliffe

CHAPTER 52

Call up him, that left half told

The story of Cambuscan bold.

MILTON

On the following morning, as Emily sat in the parlour adjoining the library, reflecting on the scene of the
preceding night, Annette rushed wildly into the room, and, without speaking, sunk breathless into a chair. It was some
time before she could answer the anxious enquiries of Emily, as to the occasion of her emotion, but, at length, she
exclaimed, ‘I have seen his ghost, madam, I have seen his ghost!’

‘Who do you mean?’ said Emily, with extreme impatience.

‘It came in from the hall, madam,’ continued Annette, ‘as I was crossing to the parlour.’

‘Who are you speaking of?’ repeated Emily, ‘Who came in from the hall?

‘It was dressed just as I have seen him, often and often,’ added Annette. ‘Ah! who could have thought —’

Emily’s patience was now exhausted, and she was reprimanding her for such idle fancies, when a servant entered the
room, and informed her, that a stranger without begged leave to speak with her.

It immediately occurred to Emily, that this stranger was Valancourt, and she told the servant to inform him, that
she was engaged, and could not see any person.

The servant, having delivered his message, returned with one from the stranger, urging the first request, and
saying, that he had something of consequence to communicate; while Annette, who had hitherto sat silent and amazed, now
started up, and crying, ‘It is Ludovico! — it is Ludovico!’ ran out of the room. Emily bade the servant follow her,
and, if it really was Ludovico, to shew him into the parlour.

In a few minutes, Ludovico appeared, accompanied by Annette, who, as joy rendered her forgetful of all rules of
decorum towards her mistress, would not suffer any person to be heard, for some time, but herself. Emily expressed
surprise and satisfaction, on seeing Ludovico in safety, and the first emotions increased, when he delivered letters
from Count De Villefort and the Lady Blanche, informing her of their late adventure, and of their present situation at
an inn among the Pyrenees, where they had been detained by the illness of Mons. St. Foix, and the indisposition of
Blanche, who added, that the Baron St. Foix was just arrived to attend his son to his chateau, where he would remain
till the perfect recovery of his wounds, and then return to Languedoc, but that her father and herself purposed to be
at La Vallee, on the following day. She added, that Emily’s presence would be expected at the approaching nuptials, and
begged she would be prepared to proceed, in a few days to Chateau-le- Blanc. For an account of Ludovico’s adventure,
she referred her to himself; and Emily, though much interested, concerning the means, by which he had disappeared from
the north apartments, had the forbearance to suspend the gratification of her curiosity, till he had taken some
refreshment, and had conversed with Annette, whose joy, on seeing him in safety, could not have been more extravagant,
had he arisen from the grave.

Meanwhile, Emily perused again the letters of her friends, whose expressions of esteem and kindness were very
necessary consolations to her heart, awakened as it was by the late interview to emotions of keener sorrow and
regret.

The invitation to Chateau-le-Blanc was pressed with so much kindness by the Count and his daughter, who strengthened
it by a message from the Countess, and the occasion of it was so important to her friend, that Emily could not refuse
to accept it, nor, though she wished to remain in the quiet shades of her native home, could she avoid perceiving the
impropriety of remaining there alone, since Valancourt was again in the neighbourhood. Sometimes, too, she thought,
that change of scenery and the society of her friends might contribute, more than retirement, to restore her to
tranquillity.

When Ludovico again appeared, she desired him to give a detail of his adventure in the north apartments, and to tell
by what means he became a companion of the banditti, with whom the Count had found him.

He immediately obeyed, while Annette, who had not yet had leisure to ask him many questions, on the subject,
prepared to listen, with a countenance of extreme curiosity, venturing to remind her lady of her incredulity,
concerning spirits, in the castle of Udolpho, and of her own sagacity in believing in them; while Emily, blushing at
the consciousness of her late credulity, observed, that, if Ludovico’s adventure could justify Annette’s superstition,
he had probably not been here to relate it.

Ludovico smiled at Annette, and bowed to Emily, and then began as follows:

‘You may remember, madam, that, on the night, when I sat up in the north chamber, my lord, the Count, and Mons.
Henri accompanied me thither, and that, while they remained there, nothing happened to excite any alarm. When they were
gone I made a fire in the bed-room, and, not being inclined to sleep, I sat down on the hearth with a book I had
brought with me to divert my mind. I confess I did sometimes look round the chamber, with something like apprehension
—’

‘O very like it, I dare say,’ interrupted Annette, ‘and I dare say too, if the truth was known, you shook from head
to foot.’

‘Not quite so bad as that,’ replied Ludovico, smiling, ‘but several times, as the wind whistled round the castle,
and shook the old casements, I did fancy I heard odd noises, and, once or twice, I got up and looked about me; but
nothing was to be seen, except the grim figures in the tapestry, which seemed to frown upon me, as I looked at them. I
had sat thus for above an hour,’ continued Ludovico, ‘when again I thought I heard a noise, and glanced my eyes round
the room, to discover what it came from, but, not perceiving any thing, I began to read again, and, when I had finished
the story I was upon, I felt drowsy, and dropped asleep. But presently I was awakened by the noise I had heard before,
and it seemed to come from that part of the chamber, where the bed stood; and then, whether it was the story I had been
reading that affected my spirits, or the strange reports, that had been spread of these apartments, I don’t know, but,
when I looked towards the bed again, I fancied I saw a man’s face within the dusky curtains.’

At the mention of this, Emily trembled, and looked anxiously, remembering the spectacle she had herself witnessed
there with Dorothee.

‘I confess, madam, my heart did fail me, at that instant,’ continued Ludovico, ‘but a return of the noise drew my
attention from the bed, and I then distinctly heard a sound, like that of a key, turning in a lock, but what surprised
me more was, that I saw no door where the sound seemed to come from. In the next moment, however, the arras near the
bed was slowly lifted, and a person appeared behind it, entering from a small door in the wall. He stood for a moment
as if half retreating, with his head bending under the arras which concealed the upper part of his face except his eyes
scowling beneath the tapestry as he held it; and then, while he raised it higher, I saw the face of another man behind,
looking over his shoulder. I know not how it was, but, though my sword was upon the table before me, I had not the
power just then to seize it, but sat quite still, watching them, with my eyes half shut as if I was asleep. I suppose
they thought me so, and were debating what they should do, for I heard them whisper, and they stood in the same posture
for the value of a minute, and then, I thought I perceived other faces in the duskiness beyond the door, and heard
louder whispers.’

‘This door surprises me,’ said Emily, ‘because I understood, that the Count had caused the arras to be lifted, and
the walls examined, suspecting, that they might have concealed a passage through which you had departed.’

‘It does not appear so extraordinary to me, madam,’ replied Ludovico, ‘that this door should escape notice, because
it was formed in a narrow compartment, which appeared to be part of the outward wall, and, if the Count had not passed
over it, he might have thought it was useless to search for a door where it seemed as if no passage could communicate
with one; but the truth was, that the passage was formed within the wall itself. — But, to return to the men, whom I
saw obscurely beyond the door, and who did not suffer me to remain long in suspense, concerning their design. They all
rushed into the room, and surrounded me, though not before I had snatched up my sword to defend myself. But what could
one man do against four? They soon disarmed me, and, having fastened my arms, and gagged my mouth, forced me through
the private door, leaving my sword upon the table, to assist, as they said, those who should come in the morning to
look for me, in fighting against the ghosts. They then led me through many narrow passages, cut, as I fancied, in the
walls, for I had never seen them before, and down several flights of steps, till we came to the vaults underneath the
castle; and then opening a stone door, which I should have taken for the wall itself, we went through a long passage,
and down other steps cut in the solid rock, when another door delivered us into a cave. After turning and twining
about, for some time, we reached the mouth of it, and I found myself on the sea-beach at the foot of the cliffs, with
the chateau above. A boat was in waiting, into which the ruffians got, forcing me along with them, and we soon reached
a small vessel, that was at anchor, where other men appeared, when setting me aboard, two of the fellows who had seized
me, followed, and the other two rowed back to the shore, while we set sail. I soon found out what all this meant, and
what was the business of these men at the chateau. We landed in Rousillon, and, after lingering several days about the
shore, some of their comrades came down from the mountains, and carried me with them to the fort, where I remained till
my Lord so unexpectedly arrived, for they had taken good care to prevent my running away, having blindfolded me, during
the journey, and, if they had not done this, I think I never could have found my road to any town, through the wild
country we traversed. After I reached the fort I was watched like a prisoner, and never suffered to go out, without two
or three companions, and I became so weary of life, that I often wished to get rid of it.’

‘Well, but they let you talk,’ said Annette, ‘they did not gagg you after they got you away from the chateau, so I
don’t see what reason there was to be so very weary of living; to say nothing about the chance you had of seeing me
again.’

Ludovico smiled, and Emily also, who enquired what was the motive of these men for carrying him off.

‘I soon found out, madam,’ resumed Ludovico, ‘that they were pirates, who had, during many years, secreted their
spoil in the vaults of the castle, which, being so near the sea, suited their purpose well. To prevent detection they
had tried to have it believed, that the chateau was haunted, and, having discovered the private way to the north
apartments, which had been shut up ever since the death of the lady marchioness, they easily succeeded. The housekeeper
and her husband, who were the only persons, that had inhabited the castle, for some years, were so terrified by the
strange noises they heard in the nights, that they would live there no longer; a report soon went abroad, that it was
haunted, and the whole country believed this the more readily, I suppose, because it had been said, that the lady
marchioness had died in a strange way, and because my lord never would return to the place afterwards.’

‘But why,’ said Emily, ‘were not these pirates contented with the cave — why did they think it necessary to deposit
their spoil in the castle?’

‘The cave, madam,’ replied Ludovico, ‘was open to any body, and their treasures would not long have remained
undiscovered there, but in the vaults they were secure so long as the report prevailed of their being haunted. Thus
then, it appears, that they brought at midnight, the spoil they took on the seas, and kept it till they had
opportunities of disposing of it to advantage. The pirates were connected with Spanish smugglers and banditti, who live
among the wilds of the Pyrenees, and carry on various kinds of traffic, such as nobody would think of; and with this
desperate horde of banditti I remained, till my lord arrived. I shall never forget what I felt, when I first discovered
him — I almost gave him up for lost! but I knew, that, if I shewed myself, the banditti would discover who he was, and
probably murder us all, to prevent their secret in the chateau being detected. I, therefore, kept out of my lord’s
sight, but had a strict watch upon the ruffians, and determined, if they offered him or his family violence, to
discover myself, and fight for our lives. Soon after, I overheard some of them laying a most diabolical plan for the
murder and plunder of the whole party, when I contrived to speak to some of my lord’s attendants, telling them what was
going forward, and we consulted what was best to be done; meanwhile my lord, alarmed at the absence of the Lady
Blanche, demanded her, and the ruffians having given some unsatisfactory answer, my lord and Mons. St. Foix became
furious, so then we thought it a good time to discover the plot, and rushing into the chamber, I called out,
“Treachery! my lord count, defend yourself!” His lordship and the chevalier drew their swords directly, and a hard
battle we had, but we conquered at last, as, madam, you are already informed of by my Lord Count.’

‘This is an extraordinary adventure,’ said Emily, ‘and much praise is due, Ludovico, to your prudence and
intrepidity. There are some circumstances, however, concerning the north apartments, which still perplex me; but,
perhaps, you may be able to explain them. Did you ever hear the banditti relate any thing extraordinary of these
rooms?’

‘No, madam,’ replied Ludovico, ‘I never heard them speak about the rooms, except to laugh at the credulity of the
old housekeeper, who once was very near catching one of the pirates; it was since the Count arrived at the chateau, he
said, and he laughed heartily as he related the trick he had played off.’

A blush overspread Emily’s cheek, and she impatiently desired Ludovico to explain himself.

‘Why, my lady,’ said he, ‘as this fellow was, one night in the bed- room, he heard somebody approaching through the
next apartment, and not having time to lift up the arras, and unfasten the door, he hid himself in the bed just by.
There he lay for some time in as great a fright, I suppose —’

‘As you was in,’ interrupted Annette, ‘when you sat up so boldly to watch by yourself.’

‘Aye,’ said Ludovico, ‘in as great a fright as he ever made any body else suffer; and presently the housekeeper and
some other person came up to the bed, when he, thinking they were going to examine it, bethought him, that his only
chance of escaping detection, was by terrifying them; so he lifted up the counterpane, but that did not do, till he
raised his face above it, and then they both set off, he said, as if they had seen the devil, and he got out of the
rooms undiscovered.’

Emily could not forbear smiling at this explanation of the deception, which had given her so much superstitious
terror, and was surprised, that she could have suffered herself to be thus alarmed, till she considered, that, when the
mind has once begun to yield to the weakness of superstition, trifles impress it with the force of conviction. Still,
however, she remembered with awe the mysterious music, which had been heard, at midnight, near Chateau-le-Blanc, and
she asked Ludovico if he could give any explanation of it; but he could not.

‘I only know, madam,’ he added, ‘that it did not belong to the pirates, for I have heard them laugh about it, and
say, they believed the devil was in league with them there.’

‘Yes, I will answer for it he was,’ said Annette, her countenance brightening, ‘I was sure all along, that he or his
spirits had something to do with the north apartments, and now you see, madam, I am right at last.’

‘It cannot be denied, that his spirits were very busy in that part of the chateau,’ replied Emily, smiling. ‘But I
am surprised, Ludovico, that these pirates should persevere in their schemes, after the arrival of the Count; what
could they expect but certain detection?’

‘I have reason to believe, madam,’ replied Ludovico, ‘that it was their intention to persevere no longer than was
necessary for the removal of the stores, which were deposited in the vaults; and it appeared, that they had been
employed in doing so from within a short period after the Count’s arrival; but, as they had only a few hours in the
night for this business, and were carrying on other schemes at the same time, the vaults were not above half emptied,
when they took me away. They gloried exceedingly in this opportunity of confirming the superstitious reports, that had
been spread of the north chambers, were careful to leave every thing there as they had found it, the better to promote
the deception, and frequently, in their jocose moods, would laugh at the consternation, which they believed the
inhabitants of the castle had suffered upon my disappearing, and it was to prevent the possibility of my betraying
their secret, that they had removed me to such a distance. From that period they considered the chateau as nearly their
own; but I found from the discourse of their comrades, that, though they were cautious, at first, in shewing their
power there, they had once very nearly betrayed themselves. Going, one night, as was their custom, to the north
chambers to repeat the noises, that had occasioned such alarm among the servants, they heard, as they were about to
unfasten the secret door, voices in the bed-room. My lord has since told me, that himself and M. Henri were then in the
apartment, and they heard very extraordinary sounds of lamentation, which it seems were made by these fellows, with
their usual design of spreading terror; and my lord has owned, he then felt somewhat more, than surprise; but, as it
was necessary to the peace of his family, that no notice should be taken, he was silent on the subject, and enjoined
silence to his son.’

Emily, recollecting the change, that had appeared in the spirits of the Count, after the night, when he had watched
in the north room, now perceived the cause of it; and, having made some further enquiries upon this strange affair, she
dismissed Ludovico, and went to give orders for the accommodation of her friends, on the following day.

In the evening, Theresa, lame as she was, came to deliver the ring, with which Valancourt had entrusted her, and,
when she presented it, Emily was much affected, for she remembered to have seen him wear it often in happier days. She
was, however, much displeased, that Theresa had received it, and positively refused to accept it herself, though to
have done so would have afforded her a melancholy pleasure. Theresa entreated, expostulated, and then described the
distress of Valancourt, when he had given the ring, and repeated the message, with which he had commissioned her to
deliver it; and Emily could not conceal the extreme sorrow this recital occasioned her, but wept, and remained lost in
thought.

‘Alas! my dear young lady!’ said Theresa, ‘why should all this be? I have known you from your infancy, and it may
well be supposed I love you, as if you was my own, and wish as much to see you happy. M. Valancourt, to be sure, I have
not known so long, but then I have reason to love him, as though he was my own son. I know how well you love one
another, or why all this weeping and wailing?’ Emily waved her hand for Theresa to be silent, who, disregarding the
signal, continued, ‘And how much you are alike in your tempers and ways, and, that, if you were married, you would be
the happiest couple in the whole province — then what is there to prevent your marrying? Dear dear! to see how some
people fling away their happiness, and then cry and lament about it, just as if it was not their own doing, and as if
there was more pleasure in wailing and weeping, than in being at peace. Learning, to be sure, is a fine thing, but, if
it teaches folks no better than that, why I had rather be without it; if it would teach them to be happier, I would say
something to it, then it would be learning and wisdom too.’

Age and long services had given Theresa a privilege to talk, but Emily now endeavoured to check her loquacity, and,
though she felt the justness of some of her remarks, did not choose to explain the circumstances, that had determined
her conduct towards Valancourt. She, therefore, only told Theresa, that it would much displease her to hear the subject
renewed; that she had reasons for her conduct, which she did not think it proper to mention, and that the ring must be
returned, with an assurance, that she could not accept it with propriety; and, at the same time, she forbade Theresa to
repeat any future message from Valancourt, as she valued her esteem and kindness. Theresa was afflicted, and made
another attempt, though feeble, to interest her for Valancourt, but the unusual displeasure, expressed in Emily’s
countenance, soon obliged her to desist, and she departed in wonder and lamentation.

To relieve her mind, in some degree, from the painful recollections, that intruded upon it, Emily busied herself in
preparations for the journey into Languedoc, and, while Annette, who assisted her, spoke with joy and affection of the
safe return of Ludovico, she was considering how she might best promote their happiness, and determined, if it
appeared, that his affection was as unchanged as that of the simple and honest Annette, to give her a marriage portion,
and settle them on some part of her estate. These considerations led her to the remembrance of her father’s paternal
domain, which his affairs had formerly compelled him to dispose of to M. Quesnel, and which she frequently wished to
regain, because St. Aubert had lamented, that the chief lands of his ancestors had passed into another family, and
because they had been his birth-place and the haunt of his early years. To the estate at Tholouse she had no peculiar
attachment, and it was her wish to dispose of this, that she might purchase her paternal domains, if M. Quesnel could
be prevailed on to part with them, which, as he talked much of living in Italy, did not appear very improbable.